Taking L-Arginine Doesn’t Improve Nitric Oxide Levels or Circulation Well in People Over 50

May 11, 2017

Volume 14 | Issue 19

If you want to get in shape or stay in shape, you may know that supplements can help you get there faster and maximize your full potential. Unfortunately, there's a lot of conflicting information about the best supplements to use to increase the effectiveness of your workouts.

One popular supplement in the fitness community is the amino acid L-arginine. Many people claim that this supplement helps them perform better. At first glance, it seems promising. L-arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator, meaning it opens up your blood vessels and boosts your circulation. Improved blood flow can certainly improve your workouts. But the question is whether taking L-arginine actually increases your nitric oxide levels and, as a result, your circulation.

According to the latest research, the answer is no. It's true that you do need some L-arginine to power the enzymes that make nitric oxide. But your body can generally make enough L-arginine for this purpose on its own. Adding more to your supplement regimen won't improve your body's ability to generate nitric oxide. What it may affect is your digestion. Particularly if you combine L-arginine with caffeine. If you do this, you may end up spending more time in the bathroom than in the gym.

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There is a way to help your body increase its nitric oxide production and experience subsequent benefits in your workouts. But if you are over 50 years old, taking L-arginine isn't it. You need L-citrulline instead. It's similar to L-arginine in that it also affects enzymes that make nitric oxide. But past the age of 50, your body is better able to absorb it. And unlike L-arginine, boosting your levels beyond your body's natural production threshold will actually make a difference in your nitric oxide conversion.

If you'd like to boost your exercise performance with nitric oxide, using L-citrulline is the way to go. You can find it in CircO2 lozenges. I like this form because it also includes vitamins B12 and C to further boost nitric oxide production and make this precious ingredient available throughout your body. Circ2 also has hawthorn berry, a remarkable herb that helps to protect and strengthen cardiovascular function and magnesium to support your circulation. The lozenge form is a unique, effective delivery system that is highly bioavailable.

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